The Islamic Republic’s government involves a sophisticated system of checks and balances. President Rouhani has proved himself to be very adept at navigating the various forces at play and giving the country a more moderate line.

The tensions in Saudi Arabia are more political than religious. Keeping this in mind, as well as paying attention to the lessons of history, could lead to the recognition that the Kingdom’s neighbors might be better viewed as competitors than enemies.

Ethnic cleansing as a viable solution to any geopolitical conflict is something nobody today can advocate.
But the ongoing war in Syria is forcibly shifting its demographics, leaving little alternative to partition.

The Orientalist

Five years ago the Arab world blew up, and the flames are still raging. What at first had been euphoria quickly turned to chaos.
What cannot be denied, though, is that the uprisings were the spark of an epochal change.

Jihad

The new year bodes ill for African security, as Islamist terrorism has become a new normal. Exacerbating the problem is the fact that governments are either too weak or too corrupt to counter the growing jihad.

Crude oil's downward slide

A new balance of power is emerging among the world’s biggest oil producers. As the price continues to decline, or merely hovers at their current levels, these countries will need to have their economies in order.

Pacific hegemony

Beijing has always insisted that Taiwan is inseparable from mainland China. But for decades the Taiwanese have been under the protective wing of the United States.
As communist China’s power increases, Taipei is being pressed into a decision.

Warming bloopers

Climate change may soon be affecting the world’s most important chocolate- producing regions. Barring a concerted effort by farmers and producers to adapt,
the world’s chocolate lovers may face a dire situation in the not- so-distant future.

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Chosen words

The year 2016 was announced in China as a year of great reforms. The most commented upon by major international media was the dropping of the one-child policy, which had been adopted by Deng Xiaoping in 1979 in order to limit population growth and to boost the country’s economic development.

World money

The market may have found a precarious balance between the trends in financial and real wealth. But it might not last.
Monetary policy must regain its orthodox role of bringing finance growth back to the pace allowed by real economy growth.